Housing Specialist II

Volunteers of America Los Angeles; Compton (CA); On-site; USD 71,236,000 - 74,988,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Volunteers of America Los Angeles is seeking a Housing Specialist II to identify housing options for program participants and coordinate move-in activities with landlords and service providers.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Social Services or related field, plus two years of case-management experience and BLS certification. On-site work is expected with strong community engagement and mandated reporter responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Fingerprint clearance and background checks required.
• TB screening and immunization records required.
• Copy of current professional license if applicable.
• Current BLS certification within 15 days of hire.
• Complete required trainings within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to work with homeless clients and landlords.

Responsibilities

• Identify housing options for homeless participants and refer to VOALA shelters as appropriate.
• Create and maintain a housing database linking tenants to apartments.
• Communicate with landlords and familiarize them with program needs.
• Conduct habitability and lead-based paint inspections as needed.
• Work one-on-one with landlords to assist clients and represent the program.
• Develop support systems to meet housing needs; coordinate move-in activities and referrals.
• Coordinate follow-up with case management and engage in community outreach.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or related discipline

Basic Life Support (BLS) within 15 days of hire

Job description

Career Opportunities with Volunteers of America Los Angeles

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VOALA
Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans' services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.

PAY RATE: $24.86 - $26.17 Per Hour
BENEFITS: VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Housing Specialist II is responsible for identifying suitable housing options for program participants and their families, and assisting the participants to achieve sustainable and healthy independent living. Part of services team for the program, the Housing Specialist II, provides experience-based leadership and participates in all stages of client service: assessment, services planning, engagement and delivery. Assists program case management, outreach and community engagement as directed; able to lead these efforts as required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless participants, including referral to VOALA shelters as appropriate.
  • Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
  • Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program and the unique needs of participants
  • Conducts habitability and lead-based paint inspections of housing options as needed
  • Works directly (One on One) with landlords on behalf of clients and program
• Develops support systems to meet individual client's housing needs; coordinates and facilitates move-in activities, rental negotiations, and service referrals as needed
• Facilitates the use of community resources to assist both tenants and landlords in the event of problems leading to potential eviction
• As a member of the program case management team, provides information referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants
  • Assists case managers in conducting the comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop an Individual Service Plan
  • Coordinates follow-up services with case management team
• Additional duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL ABILITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ability to work and deal with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs, which may include clients with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration, and other challenges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment.
• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless program participants.
  • Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
  • Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program
  • Works one-on-one with landlords to help clients, and represent program
• Develops Support system for clients to achieve and keep permanent housing, involving landlords and services available in the community.
• Coordinates efforts with Case Management team, supporting Case Management initiatives for clients served, meets regularly to stay current with client needs
• Participates in Community engagement and outreach efforts
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

MANDATED REPORTER

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Current TB screening and Immunization Records (within 5 days of hire)
• Copy of Current Professional License (if applicable)
• Current BLS Certification (within 15 days of hire)
• Completion of all required trainings (within 30 days of hire)
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs which may include clients with homelessness, mental-illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration and other challenges.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or related discipline Or Equivalent combination of education and work experience (four years)

Within 15 days of hire attend Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

EXPERIENCE:

• Two years of general experience in case management, including helping homeless individuals navigate Los Angeles' affordable and subsidized housing system.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.